Arranging MP Game....Interested ?

[devoncop]

Who can sort out this sordid tale. I urge the participants to cease their burdens on the uninvolved. Duke it out and may the map convey the full story.

For only might makes right, vae victus.

Wise advice.

No further comment on the matter shall be made by Egypt.

History will judge.

We all know who gets to write the history mind you

[Geffalrus]

We all know who gets to write the history mind you

The Antigonids

[devoncop]

Turn 27 : 284BC

The House of Cards that made up the Judean nation begins to crumble as Egypt takes the reins off its allies. Nabatea takes Samaria and Gallilea whilst Arabia takes Aelana Region......Egypt, as always less interested in conquest than stability merely occupies the almost abandoned Phillistae Region of Palestine which is found to be in a poor state of development as are most of the overrun regions.....It seems the Judeans cared more for their gilded offices in Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem than the poor peasantry in the provinces.Local merchants have complained to their liberators that even Antigonid rule had been more benevolent (which is as we all know a very low bar )

The Saka, in contrast to their beleagured allies the Mauryans continue to not only hold their own but thrive against the Bactrians who appear to have been abandoned to their fate by their supposed protectors the Seleucids.

The Antigonids may be seeking to become involved in the Rome Syracuse dispute for their own ends no doubt, and supposed Antigonid day trippers (curiously all men and of military age) have shown up off Alexandria and indeed all along the Egyptian coast in individual pleasure craft that bear a striking resemblence to the light ships of the Antigonid navy but disguised in ornamental bunting and sun shades ........The Ptolemaic Fleet continues to monitor this sudden boom in tourism with interest .......

[Yaitz331]

The House of Cards that made up the Judean nation begins to crumble as Egypt takes the reins off its allies. Nabatea takes Samaria and Gallilea whilst Arabia takes Aelana Region......

Ptolemy has never put any reigns on its allies to take off. Arabia aggressively attacked Judea, providing Ptolemy with an excuse to invade and slaughter Judea.

Egypt, as always less interested in conquest than stability

We have proven that Ptolemy is the aggressor, and Ptolemy has not even attempted to respond. Ptolemy is most certainly interested in expansion at the cost of stability.

merely occupies the almost abandoned Phillistae Region of Palestine which is found to be in a poor state of development as are most of the overrun regions.....It seems the Judeans cared more for their gilded offices in Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem than the poor peasantry in the provinces.

Judea was in the process of heavily developing them when Ptolemy stole them.
And Ptolemy's borderlands in the vast desert seem to be far less developed then Judea's borderland provinces. It seems surprisingly like Ptolemy is engaging in double standards here...

Judea is not dead yet, and Ptolemy may yet be surprised at the tricks it has up its sleeve...

[devoncop]

"Judea is not dead yet, and Ptolemy may yet be surprised at the tricks it has up its sleeve"...

Having dealt with the Judeans since the beginning of the game this is certainly one sentiment I can agree with

[13obo]

This proxy conquering is a great idea! Judea gets gifted land from Antigonids, egypt conquers it from Judea. End result - Egypt is bigger at Antigonid expense.

Smart! How come Antigonids don't mind this... Strange!

[Geffalrus]

This proxy conquering is a great idea! Judea gets gifted land from Antigonids, egypt conquers it from Judea. End result - Egypt is bigger at Antigonid expense.

Smart! How come Antigonids don't mind this... Strange!

Three words:

"I have Macedon"

[devoncop]

This proxy conquering is a great idea! Judea gets gifted land from Antigonids, egypt conquers it from Judea. End result - Egypt is bigger at Antigonid expense.

Smart! How come Antigonids don't mind this... Strange!

So cynical for one so young

[jimwinsor]

SEL notes that PTO captured Petra this turn ... and that the region's Loyalty is now 0 (ie, less than 50). What a golden opportunity! All PTO has to do now is have his army hit the "Abandon" button, move out, and the region will be given it's independence. Which will set it up for eventual re-absorption by Nabatene, thereby preserving the "territorial integrity" of Nabatene. As we all know, the "territorial integrity" of these neutrals is of PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE and the whole reason for going to war with JUD in the first place.

The world now watches to see what PTO will do with Petra ...

[devoncop]

Seleucid questions over any malevolent motivation for actions would be better addressed to the Judean High Priests, just spotted by scouts of the Egyptian military riding north at high speed on some bedraggled looking camels accompanied only by their looted gold. As the Seleucids are aware, "abandoning" a liberated Province would understandably incur a huge hit to the reputation of Egypt's government as the newly liberated were abandoned by their protectors.

The scorched earth policy conducted by Judea has resulted in the local population becoming enraged at the actions of their Judean occupiers as their farms and workplaces were burned to the floor.

Sadly that has impacted the Nabatean economy so much that they are incapable now of being able to adequately protect the historic centre of Petra from further unprovoked aggression in the future. As a result the Pharoah has been asked by the King of Nabatea to maintain order in Petra and to help rebuild what the Judeans have destroyed before returning it to Nabatean rule.

This the Pharoah has agreed to do as a favour to his close friend and ally the King.

Egypt despite its local military superiority in fact has little desire to prolong this conflict and is merely waiting on a Judean offer of peace to bring hostilities to a close. Whether that offer ever arrives will be the true test of which side has malevolent intent..............

[Yaitz331]

How bizarre that the population of Petra, which has apparently requested Ptolemaic occupation, is at zero loyalty to said Ptolemaic occupation...

How curious that the "Judean High Priests" were spotted, given that there is only one Judean High Priest who is currently in the Temple in Jerusalem. It's almost as if these claims are entirely made up...

As are the strange assertions of a "scorched earth policy", which Judea has never even planned on doing.

Given that Ptolemy has completely stopped arguing his moral rightness and has not even attempted to refute the Judean proof of Ptolemaic aggression, it is indeed the Ptolemaic court that has malevolent intentions. Judea will accept no peace that does not restore to it all of its proper lands, including the Arabian coastal province that Ptolemy has already agreed is rightly Judean.

[devoncop]

The Judeans speak of an agreement to allow Judean occupation of Palaestina Province. There was.

On turn 20. Not turn 21,22,23 etc. Read the agreement.

Not in perpetuity and not when Judea abuses such concessions by attacking Nabatea from that self same Province.

The loyalty of the population of Petra incidentally will rise significantly within the year and food will be shipped in to those desperate peasants left destitute by the Judean Army.

[13obo]

Yawn...

[Geffalrus]

Yawn...

I'm sorry, would you like me to spice things up in THIS one too?

[13obo]

Yes! That is if there's no mention of Judean High priests or Ptolemy. If there is, I'd rather soak myself in an acid bath.

[Geffalrus]

I mean, I've already been on some adventures in the far east dealing with unruly Mauryans. Now I'm heading north to deal with some pesky Saka bandits infesting the frontier regions of my Seleucid ally. I promise that said Anabasis will make for quite the book once my men have returned laden with silks and naan bread.

And I'm sure devoncop already finds a couple small scouting ships filled with Antigonid naval cadets to be plenty spicy.

[devoncop]

"And I'm sure devoncop already finds a couple small scouting ships filled with Antigonid naval cadets to be plenty spicy."

The phrase is "overly spicy"

[Yaitz331]

The Judeans speak of an agreement to allow Judean occupation of Palaestina Province.

Nope. Judea speaks of this agreement:

(screenshot so you can't claim I'm faking it)

Judea did not attempt to take the Arabian capital, and thus Ptolemy's declaration of war was a purely aggressive action. Defending Arabia was not Ptolemy's goal; the total conquest of Judea was.

not when Judea abuses such concessions by attacking Nabatea from that self same Province.

Ptolemy declared war on us, aggressively and without just cause, and expects us to refrain from waging this war that they declared.

There can no longer be any doubt of Ptolemy's wicked intentions. The breaking of the deal, a deal which Ptolemy cannot deny, prove once and for all that Ptolemy had no concern for the safety of Arabia; only for the annihilation of the righteous Judea, a nation that has engaged in nothing but self-defense.

Ptolemy is exposed.

[loki100]

The Pictish nation would like to thank the good folk of Judea for their financial contribution, we promise to spend it wisely (or alternatively just have a damn good ceilidh), this is particularly welcome as the Danes have indicated they are unable to help us for a few more years till they recover

[devoncop]

The Pictish nation would like to thank the good folk of Judea for their financial contribution, we promise to spend it wisely (or alternatively just have a damn good ceilidh), this is particularly welcome as the Danes have indicated they are unable to help us for a few more years till they recover

An excellent use of Judean money may be the establishment of a festival.....in Edinburgh maybe....

It can be a shining beacon of alternative comedy and bizarre theatre.

(Much like Judea herself)